Methods for producing retinal pigment epithelium cells

Abstract

Method comprises providing a culture of human pluripotent stem cells adherent on a first substrate comprising a first laminin; exposing the stem cells to a differentiation medium for a first time period of 15 days to 50 days to obtain a first population of adherent cells comprising RPE cells and/or progenitors thereof; at the end of the first time period, dissociating the first population from the first substrate; replating the dissociated first population of cells on a second substrate comprising a second laminin; and culturing the replated first population of cells on the second substrate for a second time period to obtain an expanded and matured second population of cells comprising the RPE cells. The first and second laminins may be independently selected from LN-521, LN-511, LN-111 and LN-121, and are an intact protein or protein fragment. Cell surface markers useful for in vitro generation of RPE cells selected from CD140b, CD56, CD104, CD164, CD220, EGER, GD2, CD184, CD10, CD30, CD49a, CD49b, CD50, CD171, TRA-1-60 and CD326, preferably CD140b, CD56, GD2 and/or CD184. Also included are RPE cells so produced as well as materials and compositions utilizing such RPE cells for various treatments.